NZ Warriors v Canberra Raiders betting tips & winner prediction

With the NRL featuring only five matches this weekend, thanks to the opening State of Origin next Wednesday night, this is a clear choice as match of the round as it features the two hottest teams in the NRL.

We have to wait until Sunday evening, but this clash between the second-placed Warriors and third-placed Raiders is the perfect lead-in for the Queensland-NSW Origin blockbuster.

New Zealand and Canberra have already met this season, in the opening round in Las Vegas, with the Raiders causing a small boilover with a 30-8 triumph.

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But few would have predicted how well both teams have fared in the interim, with the Warriors dropping just a single match since, a 42-14 reversal to premiership heavyweights the Storm in Melbourne.

That the Warriors have worked their way to second spot on the NRL ladder with a points differential of just five is testament to their ability to get the job done in close matches. Indeed, they have won six matches by single digits so far this season, with five of those wins coming by less than a converted try.

Even more surprising has been the unheralded Raiders’ re-emergence as an NRL power. They have blasted teams off the park with dazzling attack, scoring almost 30 points a game on average, with their only three losses coming against the Sea Eagles, Cowboys and Storm. Even in those three losses they scored an average of more than 17 points, so they are proving near impossible impossible to contain.

Whichever way you dice it, this clash looms as one of the matches of the season so far and also a handy pointer to how the teams may fare when the stakes go up later in the season.

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Teams news for round-12 Warriors v Raiders clash

Neither team is too heavily impacted by Origin selections, though the absence of powerhouse Warrior James Fisher-Harris (suspension) is untimely given his front-row partner Mitch Barnett was selected to play for the NSW Blues and will miss this match. Their absence is tempered by the return from injury of Bunty Afoa (knee) and Jackson Ford (concussion) but the Wahs still have lost some serious horsepower and experience up front.

Canberra’s sole Origin rep is back-rower Hudson Young, while flame-haired forward Corey Horsburgh will have a point to prove after missing selection for Queensland.

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NZ Warriors v Raiders

Start:	4.05pm AEST, May 25
Venue:	Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Head-to-head odds:	New Zealand Warriors ($1.77) v Canberra ($2.05)
Line betting:	New Zealand Warriors -1.5 ($1.90) v Canberra +1.5 ($1.90)
Premiership odds:	New Zealand Warriors $15; Canberra $15

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NZ Warriors v Canberra tips

Our NRL betting expert has highlighted his free tips for Sunday’s game.

Warriors winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to score 2 or more tries

You can get odds around $5 for Watene-Zelezniak to score at least two tries and, given his record of scoring 15 tries in his past 17 games at this ground, we could easily see him crashing over for a double. The early weather forecast is clear so could be a high-scoring contest. 

Canberra Raiders +1.5 points/match total over 42.5

The Raiders have been close to unstoppable scoring-wise this season and with the absence of the Warriors’ two biggest (or best anyway) boppers, the game may open up enough for the visitors to run rampant. This option is around $3.90 with most Aussie bookmakers.

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Warriors v Raiders prediction 

No one could question the Warriors’ grit and determination this season and they are extra hard to beat at home but we can’t help but feel their past two narrow wins against St George Illawarra (15-14) and Redcliffe (16-12) are pointers that a loss is coming. The Raiders have their back line in dazzling form and it threatens big danger in what should be a high-scoring contest.. Our final NZ Warriors v Canberra Raiders prediction? The Raiders by 10 points.